Southern California -- this just in

Powerball fever hits California as game is approved for state

Powerball fever has hit California after officials announced the popular lottery game would be coming to the state next year.

At Bluebird Liquor in Hawthorne, a "lucky" market that is legendary for drawing long lotto lines, some customers said they could not wait.

"People here are jumping up and down. We are so excited," said employee Eduardo Duran. "Customers have been asking us about Powerball all week. We've even had a few people tell us they were headed to Arizona to buy tickets."

The California Lottery Commission voted unanimously Thursday to bring
the popular multi-state game to California. Tickets, which cost $2
each, will go on sale at licensed lottery merchants in April.

The vote comes a day after the game attracted wide attention for its largest jackpot ever.

"That would have been worth
an investment of my dollar, but I didn't want to go all the way to
Arizona to buy a ticket," said Alfred Reeves, 51, as he stood by his car
outside Country Donut Shop in Long Beach. "Now I won't have to."

Danny Ta, owner of Long Beach Dairy & Liquor, said he will talk to his lottery representative about selling Powerball tickets because he knows the game is in high demand.

"I've had customers always asking me for the game, but I tell them California doesn't have it, only in other states," he said.

California is one of eight states that do not sell Powerball tickets.
The others are Utah, Nevada, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi and
Wyoming.

Lottery officials said the game is especially popular because the
prize starts at $40 million — compared with the $12-million starting
point of the Mega Millions jackpot — and increases by $5 million each time the drawing doesn't produce a winner.

"There's always a bit of a frenzy out there when the jackpot gets up
there," said Russ Lopez, a California Lottery Commission spokesman.

The commission believes that adding the Powerball game could add
between $90 million and $120 million annually in net revenue. Lottery
commission officials said at least $50 million to $100 million of that
will go directly to California schools.

The process of bringing Powerball to California began last December.
Lottery officials first commissioned a study to analyze the logistics of
implementing the game in California before ultimately recommending that
sales be offered in 2013.

To play Powerball, a participant must purchase a $2 ticket and pick
five unique numbers from a field of 1 through 59, and then a Powerball
number from 1 through 35. Players can win by matching three or more of
the unique numbers, or by matching the Powerball number alone, or by
matching the Powerball number and one or more of the five unique
numbers. In all, there are nine winning combinations. Players can
increase their winnings by paying for a $3 ticket.